Panaji: On the auspicious day of Angarika Sankashti, on Tuesday, 30 members of the BJP Panaji MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate panel and some candidates supported by former MLA Sidharth Kuncalienker filed their nomination paper before the returning officer at Panaji for the Corporation of the City of Panaji(CCP) elections.
Panaji mayor Uday Madkaikar and Monserrate’s son, Rohit, were among the 30 who filed their papers.
Speaking to reporters, Monserrate said that his panel is “ the only complete panel”. “We are not doing anything last minute, like trying to search for candidates or trying to push candidates to contest. We have got a vision and our people are here to implement the manifesto that is already before the people,” he said
“We are all going for elections and we don’t want any seat to get elected unopposed. This is the opportunity to meet the people and it is for the people to decided. I have confidence that people will chose the right candidate and we have placed the right candidate (before them) as far as our panel is concerned.”
Expressing confidence, Madkaikar said that at least 15 candidates from the opposition panel will lose their deposits in the CCP election.
Former Panaji MLA, Kuncalienker accompanied former BJP Panaji general secretary advocate Vishnu Naik, who is contesting from the St Inez ward, for the filing of his nomination papers.
“The CCP election is person-centric and has nothing to do with panel and party. There is no party symbol. It is the aspiration of the Panajikars to give the running of the corporation in good hands,” the former Panaji MLA said.
Panaji, Kuncalienker said, needs good people in the council who will be able to resolve the city’s pay parking and casinos issues, among other issues. “I am a citizen of Panaji. It is my responsibility to give the corporation in good hand,” he said.
Former BJP Taleigao candidate, Dattaprashad Naik attacked Monserrate over the issue of shifting of casinos from the Mandovi. Naik’s wife Sheetal who is state president of BJP’s Mahila Morcha has been denied nomination in the Babush BJP panel for CCP polls